Featured Stories, Latest News & Stories, Press Release
“Across ten regions, families are trying to stay ahead of the water, moving children to higher ground and waiting out the rain in evacuation centers. Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay have come through within days of each other, onto a country the monsoon had already soaked for months. More than 1.5 million people have now been affected.
Seventeen people have died, and four are still missing. Nearly 29,000 families have left their homes and are now staying in evacuation centers or with relatives and friends.
But the danger does not end when the floodwater recedes. Beyond the risks to life, families have lost the homes, crops, and income they worked years to build. Nearly 2,500 farming and fishing families have lost close to Php 97 million in crops, and damage to roads, bridges, and other infrastructure has reached Php 1.46 billion. Recovering these losses will take months, not days.
This recovery will fall hardest on women and girls, who have carried the strain of the monsoon for months already. In crisis and displacement, they face greater risks to their safety, health, and dignity, and they hold much of the work of keeping families going. Their needs have to stay at the center of this response.
That is why CARE Philippines is working with government agencies, local partners, and networks to assess needs and reach the communities most affected. We are committed to supporting families not only through this emergency, but through the recovery ahead.”
Reiza S. Dejito, Philippines Country Director, 11 August 2026
Note to editors:
CARE Philippines has existing and ongoing projects in Valenzuela and Malabon in Metro Manila, and in the whole of Rizal province, with more than 5,000 project participants.
Assessment teams are on the ground to assess the damage and the needs of affected families and communities in Rizal province.
For further details and interview set-up:
Mary Therese Norbe|CARE Philippines| Communications Specialist
Blog, Featured Stories, Latest News & Stories, Press Release, Strengthening Health Systems
Rizal Province, Philippines (August 4, 2026) — CARE Philippines officially launched the B-STRONG program in the Province of Rizal on July 23. B-STRONG is a partnership between CARE and the AbbVie Foundation that trains and equips Barangay Health Workers in Rizal Province to connect communities to critical healthcare services and improve health outcomes, by delivering care through existing government health systems.
In strong partnership with the Department of Health – Center for Health Development Region IV-A (DOH-CHD IV-A), PhilHealth NCR/Rizal, the Rizal Provincial Government, and all its 14 local government units, the program equips more than 3,000 Barangay Health Workers to connect at-risk households to PhilPEN screening, PhilHealth-YAKAP enrollment, and continuous care for non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Representatives from CARE Philippines, DOH Center for Health Development CaLaBaRZon, PhilHealth NCR, the Provincial Government of Rizal, and 14 LGUs from the province gather for the launch of the B-STRONG Project.
“In Rizal alone, thousands of people are living with high blood pressure and diabetes, and most have never been screened,” said Reiza Dejito, CARE Philippines’ Country Director. Despite this reality, she expressed optimism: “Here’s what’s giving me hope – the care already exists. YAKAP already covers the medicines. The health centers in the LGUs already do the screening. The piece that we can strengthen together is the connection between them. And this is the whole point of B-STRONG, the connection, the bridge, so when a Barangay Health Worker finds a family in need, they help connect them to the care that is already there.”
Photo: DOH Center for Health Development IV-A and CARE Philippines sign a Memorandum of Understanding. Representing the organizations are (L-R): Glenn Bede Benablo, B-STRONG Project Manager; Dr. Marie Beatrix Duzon, NCD Cluster Head, DOH CHD IV-A; Reiza Dejito, CARE Philippines Country Director; and Jerome Lanit, CARE Philippines Development Portfolio Coordinator.
CARE Philippines also formalized their partnership with DOH-CHD IV-A, PhilHealth Regional Office NCR, and the Provincial Government of Rizal through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing. Vice President of PhilHealth NCR, Dr. Bernadette Lico remarked:
“Through the B-STRONG program and its synergy with PhilHealth YAKAP, we are strengthening a more coordinated and sustainable approach – one that emphasizes prevention, health promotion and accessible care at the community level.” She added, “as we launch this program today, we reaffirm our collective commitment to stronger health systems and more empowered communities, where every Filipino has the opportunity to live a healthier and more productive life.”
“This is our north star: to reduce premature mortality due to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus by 20% by 2028. B-STRONG will reach 10,000 high-risk patients – ensuring that NCDs are diagnosed early, referred timely, and controlled effectively,” CARE Philippines B-STRONG Project Manager Glenn Bede Benablo emphasized.
The event was attended by over 100 health workers, government partners, and development partners at the municipal, provincial, and regional levels.
By embedding the model directly into local health infrastructure, B-STRONG helps ensure access to critical services remains sustainable after the program concludes. The program is designed to last beyond the project period and potentially expand to other locations.
“The AbbVie Foundation is committed to driving transformative change in communities, and we are proud to partner with CARE to advance this innovative program that is designed to strengthen local health systems and connect people to the care they need,” said Keya Milla, President, AbbVie Foundation; Vice President, Corporate Responsibility & Global Philanthropy, AbbVie. “We look forward to seeing B-STRONG’s impact on health outcomes in the Philippines ─ and its potential to serve as a blueprint for communities around the world.”
About CARE
Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE Package®, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside women and girls. Equipped with the proper resources, women and girls have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. In 2024, CARE worked in 121 countries, reaching 53 million people through 1,450 projects. In the Philippines, CARE has been supporting the most vulnerable communities during times of crisis while also fostering community resilience and development since 1949. To learn more, visit www.care.org and www.care-philippines.org.
About the AbbVie Foundation The AbbVie Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to driving transformative change in communities worldwide and advancing health equity so that every individual can realize their full potential.
Featured Stories, Latest News & Stories, Press Release
“Farming families in Canlaon City are facing two disasters at the same time. Yesterday morning, Mt. Kanlaon erupted, sending an ash plume two to three kilometers into the sky. Ashfall reached as far as Cebu, while dense clouds of volcanic ash rushed down the volcano’s southeastern slopes. Heavy rains from Super Typhoon Bavi (locally known as Inday) are making the situation worse. The loosened ash and debris could mix with rainwater, raising the risk of volcanic mudflows that may sweep into nearby communities.
CARE Philippines knows these communities. We have been working in Canlaon City since Mt. Kanlaon last erupted in December 2024, through emergency response and an ongoing development programming that supports 1,500 small-scale farmers and their families. Initial reports from our team on the ground indicate significant damage to their vegetable crops across all 12 villages, from ashfall and the typhoon, threatening the harvests their families depend on. These farmers mostly live just outside the Permanent Danger Zone1, the 4-kilometer radius around the summit crater where entry is prohibited. Yet ashfall settled on their fields, and typhoon rains flooded their farmland regardless, proving that damage from this disaster extends well beyond the official evacuation perimeter.
From our experience responding to volcanic eruptions, we know families lose more than crops in moments like this. Livelihoods, food security, and peace of mind are all at stake, especially for women, who often carry the heaviest burden of recovery. Women often manage the income and food from these vegetable farms, so this damage means lost earnings on top of new burdens: stretching food and water for their families, caring for children and elderly relatives, and coping with the anxiety and disruption. We are coordinating with our partners- the local government unit of Canlaon City and farmer associations to support these families as they recover and to prepare for the continued threat of volcanic mudflow and flooding in the days ahead.”
– Reiza Dejito, CARE Philippines Country Director
Photos: Canlaon City and its agricultural fields are covered in ashfall when Mt. Kanlaon erupted on July 9. (Source:Canlaon City Local Government Unit)
Note to Editors:
CARE Philippines’ farmer support project in Canlaon City spans 12 villages: Masulog, Linothangan, Pula, Malaiba, Lumapao, Bayog, Ninoy Aquino, Panubigan, Mabigo, Binalbagan, Bucalan, and Budlasan.
Of the 1,500 project participants, 198 are indigenous farmers.
These figures reflect CARE’s project participants only. They do not capture the full scope of farmers affected across Canlaon City and other cities and municipalities.
Photo source: Canlaon City Local Government Unit
For further details and interview set-up:
Mary Therese Norbe | Philippines | Communication Specialist
Featured Stories, Latest News & Stories, Press Release
CARE Philippines, Manila, 12 June 2026 — As the Philippines marks Independence Day, more than 400,000 people have been affected, with tens of thousands displaced and many homes damaged. Forty-seven lives have been lost. Some villages can still only be reached by boat or helicopter. In other areas, entire communities remain cut off by damaged roads and impassable bridges. More than 3,000 aftershocks and three magnitude 6.0 earthquakes have been recorded since June 8, 2026 making assessment and delivery difficult and dangerous. Every day that communities cannot be reached is another day without food, clean water, or medical care.
“What will become of our land? Going back would only put us in more danger,” said Siolito Moldan, a resident of Jose Abad Santos. Cracks have spread across the mountainside above his community, and large boulders still loom over homes below. With aftershocks continuing, returning is more dangerous than staying away. “There is nothing to go back to.” His neighbor Leonila Manda shares his fear. But she has already seen the worst of it. A rockslide from the mountain damaged her home, and a landslide swept away the coconut trees that her family depends on for their income. “I am scared of what will happen to us in the days ahead,” she said. “We have lost our home and our livelihood. What do we do now?”
Reiza S. Dejito, CARE Philippines’ Country Director, said teams in the field are meeting families anxious about water, food, shelter, and the risk of further disasters on already weakened slopes. Access remains urgent. Some communities are difficult to reach because of landslides, damaged roads, disrupted transport, and continuing safety risks.
“The next 48 to 72 hours are critical,” said Dejito. “This is a moment for coordinated action. We must move with speed, humility, and discipline — supporting local leadership, filling urgent gaps, and ensuring that no community is left behind simply because it is hard to reach.”
The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, and Mindanao is among its most vulnerable regions due to poverty and conflict. Many families in the upland areas are afraid to go back to their homes. They fear what another strong aftershock, or a heavy downpour, might do to a hillside that is already cracked and weakened. With the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecasting above-normal rainfall and possible El Nino conditions in the months ahead, this fear is grounded in reality. The risk of secondary disasters such as landslides, flooding, and further road collapse is real, and it is growing.
CARE Philippines is also concerned on the impact of the situation to women and girls who carry a disproportionate burden in this crisis and facing barriers that men do not. Evacuation centers are crowded and often lack lighting, private spaces, or separate sanitation facilities, raising the risk of gender-based violence. Dignity kits with hygiene items and sanitary products that women and girls rely on are in critically short supply. Women in isolated communities face a double burden: cut off from aid by damaged roads, and unsupported within the evacuation centers they have fled to.
“Across the affected areas in Mindanao, where women already faced higher rates of poverty and violence before the earthquake, a response that does not reach them specifically will leave the most at-risk people further behind.”, emphasized Dejito.
CARE Philippines, through the ACCESS Consortium — a group of 14 humanitarian organizations supported by the European Union — is already on the ground. Teams have distributed personal hygiene items and clean water supplies to 150 families in Maasim and T’boli and have provided psychosocial support to 377 people, including 77 children in evacuation centers in Malapatan. But with nearly 85,000 families affected across 349 communities, the response must be expanded immediately.
“Independence should not mean being left to survive alone,” added Dejito. “We know where the needs are. What’s missing is the speed and scale to reach them. Every delay puts more lives at risk.”
For thousands of families still waiting for help, the measure of this moment is not commemoration – but how quickly and fairly assistance reaches those most in need. As the nation reflects on Independence, CARE calls for urgent, collective action to ensure that no community remains isolated or left behind.
Scale of the disaster: As of 12 June 2026, 47 people have died, 33 remain missing, and more than 630 have been injured. Some 96,614 families — 432,999 people — across 374 barangays in Regions IX, XI, XII, and BARMM. An estimated 4.13 million people were exposed to strong shaking. More than 30,000 homes have been damaged, including more than 5,000 totally destroyed.
State of calamity: Four local government units — Alabel and Glan in Sarangani Province, Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental province, and General Santos City — have declared a state of calamity, enabling access to emergency funds and measures.
Access and isolation: In Jose Abad Santos, approximately 50 percent of the municipality is still unreachable by land, with three upland barangays accessible only by boat or helicopter. In Glan, 10 of 31 barangays remain cut off. Road and bridge damage continues to slow the delivery of aid to the most affected areas. CARE is working with partners and authorities to find solutions to reach isolated communities as quickly as possible.
Women and girls:Women and girls face heightened risks of violence, illness, and exclusion in emergency settings. Access to dignity kits, separate sanitation, mental health support, and safe spaces remains limited. Water contamination in parts of Sarangani and Davao Occidental creates serious risks for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children. CARE calls for women and girls’ specific needs to be built into every stage of the response.
Education: As of June 11, more than 1,300 public schools across 37 divisions have sustained damage. Classes have been suspended for approximately 3.24 million learners. Many school buildings are currently serving as evacuation centers.
——About CARE Philippines: CARE is one of the world’s leading organizations working to end poverty. In the Philippines, CARE has been working since 1949 on disaster response, supporting women and girls, and helping communities become more resilient. CARE Philippines leads the ACCESS Consortium and the Philippine Inclusive NGO Network and actively participates in the Humanitarian Country Team organized by the United Nations.
For interview set-up and additional information:
Mary Therese L. Norbe | CARE Philippines Communication Specialist
CARE Philippines stands ready to respond alongside partners
Manila, Philippines, June 8, 2026 — “Our hearts are with every family in Mindanao and across the broader region waking up to fear and loss this morning. When a disaster of this scale strikes, the first concern is always the same: saving lives and keeping people safe.
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sarangani province in the southern Philippines early today, leaving at least fifteen people dead and injuring 129 others, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD). Shaking was felt across five regions – from SOCCSKSARGEN and the Davao Region to the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and as far as Eastern Visayas – with the strongest intensities recorded in Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Davao Occidental. The earthquake also triggered tsunami warnings across nine coastal provinces, prompting immediate evacuations.
When emergencies like this strike, the most urgent concern is loss of life. The situation is still evolving, and the full scale of the impact is not yet known. Strong aftershocks continue to be reported, and commercial buildings have collapsed in hard-hit areas. Coastal communities in fragile housing face the greatest risk from tsunami surges, while disrupted access to water, health services, and shelter deepens the vulnerability of those already living on the margins. We urge everyone in affected areas to stay alert and follow the guidance of local authorities.
CARE Philippines, together with partners in the EU Humanitarian Aid-funded ACCESS Project and the Humanitarian Partnership Platform (HPP), is coordinating with local governments and disaster risk reduction authorities to assess needs and stand ready to support communities as the situation develops. We are committed to making sure that assistance reaches those who need it most – quickly, safely, and with dignity.”
For years, the Philippines has been ranked as the most disaster-prone country in the world, according to the World Risk Index. Over the last year alone, our country has been hit by multiple strong typhoons and high magnitude earthquakes. In late 2025, back-to-back earthquakes in Cebu and Davao Oriental affected nearly 2.3 million people. CARE and its partners have responded to both, and communities have shown remarkable resilience in rebuilding their lives. Yet many families are still transitioning out of temporary shelters, and the psychological toll of repeated disasters is real and ongoing.
We know from these experiences that every time disasters occur, the hardest hit are women and girls. They face complex, compounding risks long after the ground stops shaking- in their homes, in their health, and in their ability to recover. CARE is committed to ensuring that assistance reaches the right people, at the right time, with the right resources.”
– Reiza S. Dejito, Country Director, CARE Philippines, June 8, 2026
Philippines, 13 March 2026 — Families in earthquake-hit northern Cebu will soon move from temporary shelters into safe, durable, dignified homes through new support from the government of Croatia and the European Union (EU) Humanitarian Aid-funded ACCESS Project. The initiative supports more than 197 people in San Remigio, one of the areas hardest hit by the September 2025 magnitude 6.9 earthquake, where months later many remain in makeshift shelters, evacuation centers, or damaged homes.
“The Republic of Croatia stands in solidarity with communities affected by the earthquake and is proud to support the EU-funded ACCESS activities as part of the EU and its Member States’ humanitarian response. By helping families rebuild safer homes, this initiative contributes to a dignified recovery while strengthening resilience to future disasters. In times of crisis, international cooperation is essential, and the Republic of Croatia remains committed to working with European and humanitarian partners to support people in need and reduce disaster risks,” said the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.
The quake damaged more than 160,000 houses, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Assessments found that many had weak structures and were built with substandard materials. Without technical guidance or financial resources, affected communities struggled to rebuild.
This assistance is delivered by ACCESS consortium members ACCORD Inc., CARE Philippines, and Plan International Pilipinas, and includes construction materials, conditional cash support, and direct technical guidance. Shelter design is participatory, adapting homes to site conditions and household needs. Teams of local carpenters and community facilitators work closely with households to provide hands-on mentoring and quality checks. Engineers and architects also conduct on-site monitoring to ensure that safety standards are met.
“Alongside rebuilding houses, this effort helps communities regain control of their recovery,” said Sindhy Obias, Executive Director of ACCORD. “We build on local skills and leadership by working with local carpenters, training community facilitators, and supporting families to construct safer homes that can serve them well beyond the project.”
Said Reiza Deijto,Country Director of CARE Philippines, which leads ACCESS, “After an earthquake, a safe home is the first step back to normal life. Through core shelter assistance, families in Cebu receive the technical guidance and financial support they need to rebuild stronger, safer houses—designed around their realities and with room to grow as they recover.”
Core shelters are starter homes built with essential structural components that families can expand or improve over time. Immediately after the earthquake, ACCESS provided emergency shelters that offered privacy and protection but were not intended as permanent housing solutions. This new phase of support marks the transition from emergency response to longer-term recovery, helping families move into safer homes designed to withstand future earthquakes.
“In Cebu and other areas, we have seen how families – especially girls, children, young people, and women – continue to bear the weight of repeated disasters long after the headlines and media stories fade,” said Pebbles Sanchez-Ogang, Executive Director of Plan International Pilipinas. “Shelter recovery is not just about rebuilding homes but also about restoring dignity, strengthening resilience, and giving survivors the confidence and means to move forward and prepare for whatever may come next.”
– END –
About ACCESS:
The Assisting the Most Vulnerable Communities and Schools Affected by Complex Emergencies Access Quality and Timely Humanitarian and Disaster Preparedness Services (ACCESS) Project is a multi-year, multi-sectoral humanitarian and disaster preparedness initiative funded by European Union Humanitarian Aid. Since 2023, ACCESS has helped over 350,000 people across the country. The project serves the most affected, underserved, difficult-to-reach communities in the Philippines, where natural hazards, conflict, displacement, and intensifying climate-related risks continue to threaten lives and livelihoods. It is implemented by a consortium of 14 local and international organizations: ACCORD, Action Against Hunger Philippines, CARE Philippines, Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), Humanity & Inclusion Philippines, Integrated Mindanaons Association for Natives (IMAN), Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace and Development Advocates, Mindanao Organization for Social and Economic Progress (MOSEP), Oxfam Pilipinas, People’s Disaster Risk Reduction Network (PDRRN), Plan International Pilipinas, Save the Children Philippines, United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), and United Youth of the Philippines – Women (UnYPhil-Women).
Featured Stories, Latest News & Stories, Press Release
Photo: CARE staff Sandra Bulling talk to survivors of typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. The typhoon caught the Philippines by surprise by the typhoons size and strength and is believed to be one of the strongest typhoons on record. Thousands have died across a large area of land and CARE are responding with food and shelter material. Photo: CARE/Peter Caton
CARE, Manila, November 8, 2025 – Exactly 12 years to the day after Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) claimed more than 6,000 lives in 2013, the Philippines is facing another potential super typhoon. CARE Philippines is bracing for Typhoon Fung-wong (locally named Uwan). Forecasters expect it to intensify into a super typhoon just four days after Typhoon Tino devastated the Visayas.
“It is heartbreaking and terrifying that on this day of remembrance for Haiyan, communities are once again forced to flee their homes. We are witnessing an unbroken cycle of destruction that is pushing people to their breaking point,” said Reiza S. Dejito, Country Director of CARE Philippines. “Families in the Visayas have barely started cleaning the mud from their homes after Typhoon Tino, and now they must prepare for Uwan. This is the stark reality of the climate crisis—hazards are becoming so frequent that there is zero time to recover.”
Typhoon Uwan is projected to track towards Luzon. It may make landfall in Catanduanes—an island province that has not yet fully recovered from Super Typhoon Pepito (Man-yi) last year. CARE is deeply concerned for abaca farmers there. Their newly replanted crops take two years to mature and are at high risk from the approaching storm.
Meanwhile, the situation in the south remains critical. Dinagat Islands and Southern Leyte, areas hit first by Typhoon Tino only four days ago, are back under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals today due to Uwan’s expansive reach.
CARE Philippines is managing a complex, multi-front response. Teams are on the ground providing life-saving aid to flood and lahar survivors in Cebu and Negros from Typhoon Tino. At the same time, we are assessing readiness for Uwan’s anticipated impact in Luzon.
Notes to the editor:
Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) made its first landfall on November 8, 2013. It is the deadliest typhoon in Philippine modern history, with over 6,300 confirmed dead.
Typhoon Fung-wong (Uwan) is forecast to rapidly intensify and may reach super typhoon category before a possible close approach or landfall over Catanduanes on November 9.
Typhoon Tino, which made landfall on November 4, has already affected over 1.4 million people and displaced more than 600,000.
CARE Philippines is responding to these compounded crises through its local partners and the ACCESS Consortium.
Media contacts:
Mary Therese L. Norbe
CARE Philippines Communications Specialist (English, Filipino, Bisaya, Hiligaynon) marytherese.norbe@care.org
MANILA (November 5, 2025) – CARE Philippines has activated its local emergency teams in Cebu, Negros Occidental, and Eastern Samar to help communities affected by Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi). The storm has hit areas that were already dealing with other recent emergencies.
The storm, which made five landfalls across the Visayas, has affected 1,107,819 people and displaced 577,928 as of November 5. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has also reported 52 people dead and 13 missing. In response to the extensive damage, a State of Calamity has been declared in 53 cities and municipalities in Cebu.
“Women and girls are once again carrying the weight of overlapping crises,” said Reiza S. Dejito, Country Director of CARE Philippines. “In Northern Cebu, families who lost their homes in the September earthquake are displaced again. Our recent assessment there showed that women were already under extreme stress, holding their families together while living outdoors in fear of aftershocks. This typhoon now adds a devastating new layer of hardship to their struggle. We are seeing similar compound crises in Eastern Samar, with recurring floods, and in Negros, with the threat of volcanic lahars. Our immediate priority is to find out what people urgently need for shelter, clean water, and food.”
Typhoon Tino passed through several areas already facing emergencies. In Northern Cebu, the storm hit communities still recovering from the M 6.9 earthquake on September 30. In Eastern Samar, it is affecting communities that have already endured recurring floods from recent storms, monsoons, and the shearline. In Negros Occidental, heavy rainfall has triggered high-risk warnings from PHIVOLCS for lahars (volcanic mudflows) from Kanlaon Volcano.
CARE can respond quickly because we have local offices and partners in these areas. CARE’s Start Ready project, which was activated before the storm, has also already prepositioned supplies into Eastern Samar. CARE activated these teams, with the Humanitarian Partnership Platform (HPP) and through the European Union Humanitarian Aid-funded ACCESS Project — led by CARE and implemented with a consortium of local and international organizations — to conduct a rapid assessment (known as an RDANA) to find out what people need most.
CARE will work closely with local government units and other humanitarian actors to complement ongoing relief and recovery efforts, building on existing coordination mechanisms to ensure that assistance reaches the most at-risk families efficiently and equitably.
Notes to the editor:
CARE’s emergency response is complicated by multiple other active emergencies: STS Opong, M6.9 earthquake in Northern Cebu, the recent eruption of Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Occidental, and Davao earthquake.
CARE’s initial response priorities include food, clean water, shelter support, and hygiene kits.
CARE Philippines has a long history of responding to typhoons, including Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013, Super Typhoon Rai (Odette) in 2021 and Super Typhoon Nando (2025).
Blog, Featured Stories, Latest News & Stories, Press Release
CARE, Manila, Philippines, November 3, 2025 – CARE Philippines is mobilizing in anticipation of Typhoon Tino, which has intensified and is expected to make landfall tonight in Eastern Samar. The storm, combined with the intensified Eastern shear line, is expected to bring destructive winds and heavy rainfall, posing a high risk of widespread flooding and landslides, particularly for communities along the eastern seaboard and those with existing flood hazards.
The state weather bureau PAGASA reported that “Tino” now has maximum sustained winds of 120 kph with gusts up to 150 kph. It is forecast to make its initial landfall at or near its peak intensity of up to 165 kph.
“We are working with our local partners across the Humanitarian Partnership Platform (HPP), Start Ready, and the ACCESS Consortium to ensure that critical support reaches the most at-risk communities, fast and effectively,” said Reiza S. Dejito, Country Director of CARE Philippines.
In Eastern Samar, CARE is initiating early response actions through its Start Ready project, supported by the Start Network. This includes coordination with local authorities, the pre-positioning of essential supplies, and ensuring the readiness of response teams.
Photo: CARE staff hands a shelter Non-Food Item (NFI) kit and a solar lamp to a community member in Medellin, Cebu on October 30, as part of its Cebu Earthquake Emergency Response.
Dejito also emphasized that CARE is closely monitoring the situation in areas still recovering from previous disasters, such as northern Cebu which was hit by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake on September 30 and now lies in the typhoon’s projected path. “Our teams are coordinating with local partners to assess risks, communicate early warnings, and prepare for potential compound impacts,” she said.
“We know that those already coping with disaster impacts—especially women, girls, and people with disabilities—face heightened risks when storms hit. That’s why we take early action, reinforce local capacities, and focus on delivering timely, targeted support before the worst conditions arrive.”
For media inquiries, please contact:
Mary Therese L. Norbe
Communications Specialist
marytherese.norbe@care.org
Notes to the editor:
CARE’s initial response priorities include food, clean water, shelter support, and hygiene kits.
This mobilization for Typhoon Tino comes as CARE Philippines continues its response to other recent disasters, including Tropical Cyclone Opong, and the earthquakes in Cebu and Davao.
CARE Philippines has a long history of responding to typhoons, including Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013, Super Typhoon Rai (Odette) in 2021 and Super Typhoon Nando (2025).
Manila, Philippines, October 11, 2025 – A powerful earthquake struck off the coast of Davao Oriental, Mindanao, in southern Philippines at 9:43 AM (PST) on October 10, 2025. Authorities issued a tsunami warning and urged precautionary coastal evacuations; the warning was later lifted after minor sea-level changes were recorded. Today’s quake comes just over a week after a destructive tremor near Cebu, a major island in the central Visayas region, and follows two powerful tropical cyclones, Nando (international name: Ragasa) and Opong (Bualoi), which battered parts of the country. These events underscore how frequently hazards strike the country and how quickly communities must pivot from one emergency to the next.
“When disasters strike in rapid succession, it is always the most vulnerable who struggle to recover—and too often, that means women and girls. Our focus is listening to communities, responding to what they say they need, and standing behind local responders—especially women leaders—who are already protecting and rebuilding lives in last-mile areas. This is how we ensure that humanitarian aid doesn’t just arrive, but reaches those who need it most, safely and with dignity.” — Reiza S. Dejito, Country Director, CARE Philippines.
According to initial updates from partners, shaking was felt widely across Mindanao. In Tagum City, lights and electric fans reportedly fell at a university as students evacuated. In Maragusan, residents described the ground as “jumping.” Kidapawan City experienced a temporary power interruption. In Tarragona, cracks were observed in some structures, and several coastal villages began evacuations after the tsunami warning.
With partners in the EU Humanitarian Aid-funded ACCESS Project led by CARE, as well as the Humanitarian Partnership Platform, CARE Philippines is launching needs assessments in hard-hit and hard-to-reach areas, coordinating with local authorities to prioritize the efficient delivery of lifesaving assistance. Prepositioned supplies are being mobilized and response plans are underway.
“Our teams and partners are launching coordinated assessments, working with local disaster risk reduction authorities and community organizations in the most affected areas. We will check damage to water points, shelters, and livelihoods. With aftershocks expected, we are prioritizing protection, clear information, and coordination so aid reaches those most in need as quickly and as safely as possible.” — Jessan Catre, Humanitarian, Disaster Resilience, and Peacebuilding Coordinator, CARE Philippines.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) placed the epicenter offshore Davao Oriental and reported strong shaking across Davao Region and neighboring provinces. A tsunami warning was issued for several coastal provinces and later cancelled after a small sea-level change (~30 cm) was detected at Tandag, Surigao del Sur.
Note to Editors:
CARE has provided humanitarian and development support in the Philippines since 1949. As one of the most disaster-prone countries globally, the Philippines faces significant challenges, and CARE remains at the forefront of delivering life-saving support to communities most in need. According to the World Risk Index report, the Philippines has been ranked as the country most at risk for disasters for four consecutive years. This context underscores the critical importance of CARE’s work in humanitarian action, disaster preparedness, and strengthening local capacity.
